Vanilla cream cookie dough pie has perfectly contrasting layers of sweet, gritty cookie dough and light, creamy topping. You won’t be able to stop at one slice!

I just now realized that we haven’t talked about the new season of “This is Us” yet.

I know that it’s such a cliche to love that show, but I can’t even stop myself. Mostly it’s because of Jack. The man hypnotizes me. I feel like it says a lot about a man when he has a mustache but still charms us in 2017. It’s an exceptional quality that we don’t really appreciate enough, if you ask me.

But all through every episode I have this feeling of dread in my stomach — is this going to be how Jack dies? No wait — is THIS how he dies? They are playing sad music, oh geez, it’s about to happen, isn’t it??

Y’ALL HOW DOES JACK DIE AND CAN IT JUST BE DONE PLEASE. My heart can’t take it. I just want to celebrate his life and focus on how his pants fit him so very perfectly. Please don’t make me constantly wonder about the horrific way he met his end.

IT IS NOT FAIR TO ANY OF US.

Also I am not crazy about senior citizen Mandy Moore. I know they’re doing the best they can, but it’s not working for me. There’s an episode of Saved by the Bell where Zack and the gang were picturing themselves as old people, and apparently things haven’t come along much in the way of make-up since the 90’s because it’s basically the same. WE CAN ALL TELL MANDY HAS FAKE SKIN ON. Could you even imagine if Jack WASN’T DEAD and we had to be subjected to fake old-person face on him?

No. Let Miguel be saddled with that, thanks so much. None of us are crazy about him and we all know it.

YOU WILL NEVER REPLACE JACK, MIGUEL. You might have the Pilgrim Rick hat, but it ends there. Period.

A reader recently asked me to attempt a recreation of a Marie Callendar pie she bought in the frozen food section of her grocery store. I don’t think that this version is exactly the same, but it’s most likely better. A layer of egg-free, flour-free cookie dough topped with a lightly sweetened vanilla cream — the light cream and the sweet gritty cookie dough are the perfect contrast. I’m kind of obsessed, if we are being honest. Not as obsessed as I am with Jack and his khakis, but close.

In the bowl of your mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and powdered sugar on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract and heavy cream until combined. Beat on high for one minute, until fluffy. Fold in chocolate chips. Spread evenly into bottom of prepared pie crust and set aside.

In a clean metal mixing bowl using your mixer's whisk attachment, beat 1 1/2 cups heavy cream until stiff. Scrape into a large bowl and set aside. Add cream cheese and powdered sugar to the same mixing bowl you used to make whipped cream, beating on medium speed until smooth. Slowly add vanilla and heavy cream, beating on medium until smooth. Spoon cream cheese misture into bowl with whipped cream and gently fold together using a rubber spatula. Spread over cookie dough in pie crust. Top with sprinkles and mini chocolate chips.

My weekly meal plan is full of family friendly dinner ideas that are perfect for busy weeknights!

Like most of you, I’ve been glued to the television this morning, watching the news slowly trickle out from Las Vegas. My heart is breaking as I sit here and think about the pain that many are facing today. There aren’t even words.

As awful as this morning is, we still have jobs to go to and errands to run and kids to feed. It just doesn’t seem real, does it?

I’m still doing the diet thing, staying away from carbs and dairy, so this week’s meal plan is Whole30 approved (except for dessert, which I included just for you guys).

Here’s what we are having for dinner this week. As always, don’t forget to print a grocery list for easy shopping. Just printand head to the store!